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Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east
of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 21 06 S, 55 36 E
Map references: World
Area:
total: 2,512 sq km
land: 2,502 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 207 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation;
cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to
April
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands
along coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic, devastating cyclones (December
to April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an
active volcano
Environment - current issues: NA
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